Birmingham & Focus On Imaging

Marzipanogram · 6 Feb 2013 at 14:53

I'm thinking about visiting Birmingham and F.O.I. at the NEC in March.

To keep it short and sweet.
Is there anything in Birmingham apart from the Bullring shopping centre exterior worth shooting (staying overnight) and is it worth visiting F.O.I. if I'm not interested in buying anything ?

Thanks.

Marzipanogram · 7 Feb 2013 at 15:12

Your silence tells me all I need to know

- This thread can be closed -

InertProtocol · 7 Feb 2013 at 15:26

Town Hall, the canals, Jewellery quarter.

Oh and the tower which i believe is one of a pair which were the inspiration for some Tolkein book

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/centralengland/739039/Sites-that-shaped-Tolkiens-Lord-of-the-Rings.html

unrealrocks · 8 Feb 2013 at 08:03

Depending on what you want to shoot there is plenty of great industrial scenes around Digbeth and further up into Handsworth. Loads of really interesting cultural scenes in some of the suburbs where different ethnicities have been really pushed together, also the obligatory light trail night shots of the tunnels and main roads.

If you want tourist shots then you are going to be fairly limited depending on your scope of interest however!

Marzipanogram · 8 Feb 2013 at 10:32

InertProtocol said:
Town Hall, the canals, Jewellery quarter.

Oh and the tower which i believe is one of a pair which were the inspiration for some Tolkein book

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/uk/centralengland/739039/Sites-that-shaped-Tolkiens-Lord-of-the-Rings.html

unrealrocks said:
Depending on what you want to shoot there is plenty of great industrial scenes around Digbeth and further up into Handsworth. Loads of really interesting cultural scenes in some of the suburbs where different ethnicities have been really pushed together, also the obligatory light trail night shots of the tunnels and main roads.

If you want tourist shots then you are going to be fairly limited depending on your scope of interest however!

Thank you both very much

I'm wanting to shoot something close to the town centre, as I'd be walking.
Probably interior and exterior architecture type shots.

Darren555 · 8 Feb 2013 at 11:49

Walk down to the Custard factory (10 mins max from Bullring). Interesting stuff there and around it (railway arches, old factories etc)

Some interesting architecture (mix of old and new) around Millenium point too. Again this is a short walk from the Bullring.

As said, you have access to the older sections of the canals in this area too.

The area around the Ikon Gallery is also worth a look.

Marzipanogram · 8 Feb 2013 at 12:25

Darren555 said:
Walk down to the Custard factory (10 mins max from Bullring). Interesting stuff there and around it (railway arches, old factories etc)

Some interesting architecture (mix of old and new) around Millenium point too. Again this is a short walk from the Bullring.

As said, you have access to the older sections of the canals in this area too.

The area around the Ikon Gallery is also worth a look.

Cool stuff, thanks

Is it OK to visit those areas alone and after dark or is it best to visit them in the afternoon and shoot in ambient light ?

Darren555 · 8 Feb 2013 at 12:28

I'd say Around the Ikon after dark is fine & the other places before.

Marzipanogram · 8 Feb 2013 at 12:34

Darren555 said:
I'd say Around the Ikon after dark is fine & the other places before.

Nice one, thank you.

postbox · 8 Feb 2013 at 12:36

Ikon, as in near Brindley place? probably the safest area in Birmingham - just avoid Saturday night, everyone is intoxicated. - If you're in that area, get some shots of The Cube (inside and out).

Marzipanogram · 8 Feb 2013 at 12:41

postbox said:
Ikon, as in near Brindley place? probably the safest area in Birmingham - just avoid Saturday night, everyone is intoxicated. - If you're in that area, get some shots of The Cube (inside and out).

Thanks.
I'm likely to be there on a Monday night.

DB_SamX · 10 Feb 2013 at 00:05

This thread is relevant to my interests as I'm also venturing to Birmingham for the first time in my life in March, for the badminton championships.

Also only aware of the Bullring so far to photograph!

Raymond Lin · 10 Feb 2013 at 00:10

postbox said:
Ikon, as in near Brindley place? probably the safest area in Birmingham - just avoid Saturday night, everyone is intoxicated. - If you're in that area, get some shots of The Cube (inside and out).

Very safe area, it actually has its own Brindleyplace Estate team, they look after and maintain the place.

londonbairn · 19 Feb 2013 at 11:58

I may go to this, as they do 1to1 sessions with CPS members to try out new gear.

Do Canon do any good deals onsite?

Raymond Lin · 19 Feb 2013 at 12:33

londonbairn said:
I may go to this, as they do 1to1 sessions with CPS members to try out new gear.

Do Canon do any good deals onsite?

Nothing amazing, and nothing you couldn't beat from online from Kerso or places in the far east.

That's what i've heard and although I work in Birmingham I've never been !

Would love to go to see some of their seminars though but my favourite togs were on last year and they are almost always full and overbooked.

DB_SamX · 27 Apr 2013 at 20:19

A few from my Saturday there. It was bloody freezing and I had company with me, so wasn't fully into it but I like to think I took a few decent photos. I think there is potential for more if you spend enough time. The Custard Factory is certainly quirly and interesting enough.

DSC_0007.jpg by *SM*, on Flickr

DSC_0023.jpg by *SM*, on Flickr

DSC_0025.jpg by *SM*, on Flickr

DSC_0042.jpg by *SM*, on Flickr

DSC_0048.jpg by *SM*, on Flickr

DSC_0053.jpg by *SM*, on Flickr

Full set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sameermannick/sets/72157633364846054/